I had my 5 year follow-up with my oncologist today. My treatment was by the book, with most everything going the way you hope. Surgery went well. Got through chemo. I have some of the usual side effects of the process. Bowel issues, occasional chemo-head.

I've also had a few nodules in my lungs there were there from the beginning. They did not react to the chemo, and were stable. Then, a year ago, the CT showed one of them grew a little (4 mm to 6 mm). We set another CT for 6 months, and found it had not grown at all. Now, 6 months later, it is 9 mm.

Because these nodules existed before the colorectal cancer was detected, and did not react to chemo, my oncologist says they are unlikely related to the colorectal cancer. She also says the odds of it being cancer are low. But I don't feel reassured, and it is so disappointing to get 5 years out and suddenly need a biopsy. I know there is nothing magical about 5 years, and there never are guarantees, but I think it would have been a relief to get the all-clear regardless.

Hi,Please remember that people here have had lung nodules removed that have been a cm and they have not been cancer. They grow too . In oncology terms they described my mum's nodule as slow growing and that was over two years. Are you having a PET scan? My mum had uptake at 7mm . They followed my mum's nodule and although it was slow growing it did continuously grow. She has two nodules that have stayed at 2mm for six months but are not classed as disease. It's such an anxiety but I would have to say there is a strong possibility that your oncologist is correct and this is a peace of mind exercise. I do hope so and it's just a bump on the road. Kind regards Stu

Thanks for all the kind replies. Right now, the plan is to start with the biopsy and see where we are at. I assume a PET scan would follow a positive result. I did have a PET scan 5 years ago with no uptake from the couple nodules I have. My biggest worry is that the growth over the last year or two is close to the median growth for malignant lung nodules. I fall into some of the categories that indicate a low chance of malignancy (non-smoker, etc) and some that are the opposite (history of cancer, fast growing).

I wish I could have given family and friends good news. I know many were seeing 5 years as a big deal.

There's a long-term member here--JulieJ--who had a lung spot that had been around since diagnosis suddenly start to grow. She had VATS and it turned out to be benign. You can read one of her posts about it here:

It's worth noting that Julie's doctor at MSK recommended against biopsy due to the possibility of seeding. Granted her situation was slightly different given that she was already stage IV at diagnosis, but this still might be worth a conversation with your doctor. It it was me, I'd ask at least request another PET before attempting a biopsy.

Will be keeping fingers crossed for you that this is nothing. Please do post back and let us know.

Last edited by lpas on Fri Apr 21, 2017 6:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.